EARLY RATINGS INDICATE BIG LOSS OF AUDIENCE FOR AWARDS

UPDATE:
Nielsen said Monday that “time-zone adjusted fast nationals” put the total audience at 17 million — in line with last year’s figures.

(EARLIER) Ratings for Sunday night’s Golden Globes telecast dropped precipitously to 14.29 million viewers from last year’s 17 million, according to Nielsen overnight figures. Only a few years ago, the awards show was regularly attracting 20 million, and in advance of Sunday’s ceremony, several TV columnists were predicting that ratings would return to that level or perhaps set a new record. Sunday’s audience peaked during the 9:00 half-hour with 15.35 million viewers. But even that number did not represent a viewer high for the night — CBS’s 60 Minutes did better with 17.25 million viewers. And a runover of CBS’s telecast of the AFC Jets-Patriots Divisional Playoffs attracted 43.11 million in the 7:00 p.m. half-hour and 38.12 million in the 7:30 p.m. half-hour.